15cm sIG33 gun (GE565) Two Models The 15cm schweres InfanterieGeschutz 33 was designed and built to fulfill a German army requirement for a powerful close support gun for the infantry. The German army preferred infantry support guns rather than the mortar most other countries had chosen to use in this kind of role. Design started in the mid 1920’s and by 1935 the first prototypes were produced.

The guns design was conventional but rather heavy for its intended role. Originally intended to be horse drawn later versions had rubber tyred wheels and air brakes to allow them to be towed by vehicles.     Attempts were made to lighten the gun but not many of this version were made, as the alloys needed for the job were more essential to aircraft production. It could fire a 38kg (84lb) HE or smoke shell out to 4700m at the rate of 2-3 rpm. A hollow charge round was developed but was mainly used to destroy bunkers and other fortifications. A Steilgranate round was developed as well but was also rarely used.

In Flames Of War Your heavy infantry gun platoon will be armed with two of these large and powerful guns and with their firepower of 1+ and AP of 12 will destroy most anything they hit with direct fire. As artillery weapons they are not quite as good as dedicated artillery weapons and, having only two guns in the platoon means you’ll need to re-role hits. But if you do hit then the AP of 3 and FP of 2+ (remember to double your FP score for artillery fire) will take care of even the most difficult target. Grenadiers usually had horse teams to tow their 15cm sIG33 guns but if you choose Panzergrenadiers you can choose from a couple of options with either the SdKfz 11 tractor or the SdKfz 251/1 as tow vehicles.

For painting your guns follow the general rules for all German equipment; use dark grey for pre mid1943 and Dunkelgelb (sand yellow) for post mid 1943. If the gun crew are infantry grenadiers then the correct Waffenfarbe (collar and shoulder strap piping if you’re into painting these things) is white – remember they’re infantrymen not artillerymen! And if they’re Panzergrenadiers then grass green is the correct Waffenfarbe. Model Designed and Painted by Evan Allen